This can happen in an instant: You trip over a tree root, a rock you thought was stable begins to move, or you slip on a steep slope. In an instant, you’re on the ground, with a sprained ankle.
This injury happens to hikers everywhere all the time, but for visitors to a national park, it is especially widespread. In Acadia National Park, trail and weather conditions often combine to create the perfect storm for the “Acadia Ankle”: a broken, sprained, or otherwise injured ankle. Here’s why this happens, and what visitors can do to stay safe.
what does the data say
To see if the nickname “Acadia Ankle” is really worthy, we took a look at data From MDI SAR, a Maine-based search and rescue organization that responds to incidents in the park. In 2022 and 2023, the team responded to 15 and 19 incidents, respectively.
In both years, approximately 27% of incident reports included the word “ankle”. For example, this part of the body was mentioned much more frequently than the knees, and ankle injuries resulted in incidents that required SAR more frequently than major falls.
Why is this so common?
Two basic elements combine to create an accident-prone environment: granite rock and rain. Acadia is primarily granite, which was polished millennium ago By glaciers. This polished rock can be slippery when dry, so when it rains, there is almost zero friction, leading to slips and falls.
Peak tourist season for the park (June to September) is not the rainiest part of the year in Maine, but the park can easily become overcrowded with rain. 3 inches of rain and 9 rainy days per month During this time. In one MDI SAR incident where a pedestrian suffered an ankle injury, he directly cited “very wet and slippery” conditions as a contributing factor.
The trail distance in Acadia may be short, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous. MDI SAR has been called multiple times for people who have suffered ankle injuries cadillac cliffs trail. It is only 0.3 miles round trip, but many parts of the hike cross granite ledges and large rocks, with a summit grade of 40%.
Ankle injuries are also common on the Cadillac North Ridge Trail. National Park Service (NPS) The 4.3-mile walk is rated “moderate”, but it also warns visitors that some sections can be quite “difficult” on foot. The routes to the summit of Acadia’s mountains include “steep climbs (which) can create dangerous conditions without preparation,”. nps explained.
prevention and protection
Shoes are one of the most important ways to protect yourself from Acadia Ankle. The NPS recommends wearing sturdy shoes for hiking. This park is not a hiking destination in Chacos. While trail runners have widely displaced traditional, above-the-ankle hiking boots for many legitimate reasons, in Acadia, one is likely to wear a slightly heavier shoe for better protection.
Keep in mind that hiking with large elevation gains may be more uncertain in spring, fall, or winter. “Ice grippers, cleats, and traction footwear may have little effect on the smooth, underlying granite surfaces. Trekking poles are highly encouraged,” NPS said.
Information is also power. friends of acadia (FOA), a nonprofit that supports the park, says to always be sure to read about the hike beforehand so you know exactly what you’re getting into. When choosing a hike that’s appropriate for your ability level, pay more attention to terrain rather than distance.
And of course, keep an eye on the weather. A rainy day is probably not the best time to attempt to climb the summit. If conditions are looking humid, try More comfortable, flat hike Around one of Acadia’s many lakes.
If an accident does occur, the FOA recommends bringing a first aid kit that includes tape to wrap a sprained ankle. Be sure to tell other people about your itinerary, and carry some kind of emergency communications device with you.
Since you’ve made the trip all the way to Maine, you’ll want to make the most of your vacation in Acadia National Park. With adequate preparation and caution, you can avoid ruining your fun due to an ankle sprain.
